If you do a lot of online shopping, your checking account could be in danger. Hackers hang out online looking for unsuspecting shoppers. Once they have your banking information, it's just a matter of time before they wreak financial havoc on your bank account. Luckily, you don't have to fall victim to their fraudulent activities. Here are three steps you can take to protect your checking account.
Avoid Unsecure Sites
Each time you shop online, you open yourself up to potential account theft. You can protect your checking account information by avoiding unsecured sites. If you're not sure how to tell whether a site is secure or not, simply look up at the search bar on your browser. If the location is secure, you'll see a green padlock that's tightly locked. You should also see the letters "https" in green if your use Google Chrome. If you see those two items, your banking information is safe and secure.
However, if you don't see the green padlock, leave the site and shop elsewhere. It's important to note that you should check for those security indicators each time you log onto a page. If a site that is normally secure suddenly lacks the green padlock, they might have had a security breach. Avoid the site until they have their security updated.
Don't Save Your Account Information
It can be time-consuming to enter your bank account information each time you purchase something. That's why it's so convenient to save your banking information at the sites you shop at the most. Unfortunately, that practice is an open invitation for hackers to steal your information. To protect your finances, never save your account information online. Take the extra time to input your information each time you make a purchase.
Monitor Your Bank Account
If you don't monitor your bank account at least once a week, you could be jeopardizing your bank account. New transactions are processed each day. Some of those transactions could be fraudulent. Protect your finances by monitoring your bank account each day. This will allow you to catch fraudulent transactions – and dispute them – before they have a chance to damage your account.
You never know when your bank account is going to fall victim to hackers. Protect your valuable information by following the steps provided above. If you believe you've been the victim of hackers or identity thieves, you should contact your financial institution as soon as possible.
